Puppet Under Strings (unOrdinary)

Episode 16

"Volcan." I said sharply.

She put her head up to hear my voice. 

Unlike before, she looked like a mess. Her neat bun was disheveled and laid out on her shoulders with her bangs almost covering one eye. She also lost some of her clothes. Her trench coat, jewelry, hat, and makeup were gone. She was wearing a black turtleneck shirt, black pants, and black work shoes. But the thing that I noticed most was her face. Since her mask was also gone, I could clearly see what she looked like.

"Ah, it's you..." she responded after I called her name.

"Just me? What, were you expecting someone to come to your rescue and break you free?" I asked, making my voice more fierce. "I'm surprised. You haven't tried to break out yourself?"

"Psh. If anyone tried to free me, I wouldn't budge an inch." she replied with a frown. "Just to let you know, it was those idiot employees that caused me to be captured. If they had just been stronger, then I wouldn't have to be stuck here."

"Right. Keep telling yourself that."

"Besides, I couldn't break out even if I wanted to. The glass is too thick for me to scratch through with my fire claws. Not to mention it's fireproof. You see, I'm not that foolish."

"Hmm." I thought to myself.

"Anyway, what are you doing here? Considering what I did to you back in HQ, I didn't think you would want to see me again." she put her strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

"I need to know who I am. Why I'm still here. And the only way to do that is to talk to you. I didn't have a choice, okay? And I definitely didn't come back just for mother-son bond building." I explained. "You betrayed Dad even though you cared for the lower ranks. Why?"

"I see you've talked to William." she muttered. "To answer your question, I didn't betray him. He betrayed me. Even when he was getting picked on, even when he was made fun of back in our school days, he still chose the selfish high tier side over his own."

"He only wanted peace." I argued. "Would it be better if high tiers started dying and suffering instead of low tiers and mid tiers? No. It's the same story all over again. There's nothing good about hurting people. Whether they've done bad things in the past, they don't deserve to die."

"Say what you will." Volcan sighed. "It's a pity that you take your father's side over mine."

"How could I ever take your side? You almost killed me."

"Fair enough. But didn't you gain strength from the experiments? You were the weakest of weak before. Always getting beat up every day, crying to your father when you came back home from school. But because I chose you, you're now the strongest."

"What are you even talking about?"

"You really don't know? Because I injected many ability vials into your bloodstream and chose to leave the other kids to only one specific ability vial, the intensity of the high tier power grew over time as you aged over the years. Don't you know why you're so strong to begin with? It's all because of me. I was the one to end your suffering. I was the one who made you a high tier."

What? It was all because of this lady that I have an ability level of 8.6?!

"You're lying." I finally spoke.

"Please. What would I have to gain from lying? Your trust? You already said what you believe. I'm a heartless killer who has no sympathy for the higher ranks."

"I don't get it." I walked over and banged my fists on the thick glass loudly. "Why am I even alive if you don't even care?! Why am I even here if your plan was to use me all along?!"

I felt a tear drop down my cheek.

"Why...do you not love me?"

...

"Well? Answer me!!" I yelled.

"It's not that I don't love you." Volcan finally said. "I love you, John. I do. But there are some things that are more important than you think."

"More important than family?"

"Yes."

"Cut the bullcrap. If you really loved me, then you wouldn't have kidnapped and used me for your own personal gain. You're the selfish one here." I wiped the tears from my eyes.

"Hm. If you think that, that's fine. But I did what I must."

Liar. I thought to myself. 

From day one, you always had that plan of yours planted in the back of your head, didn't you? You got close to Dad only to betray him. Even though you say you're on the side of the low and mid tiers, you despise your own kind. 

Hypocrite.

I sighed.

"Fine. I don't need anything else. I just wanted to talk to you to know why you did all of this." I said. "But it seems like it was a waste of time. Everything that comes out of your mouth contradicts the truth. And you can't accept it so you make up things. I'm going back."

I rested my fists and put my hands down, turning around to leave the room.

"I love you, John." Volcan repeated from before. "I do."

I shut my eyes and slammed the door behind me.

"I love you."

Yeah, right.

Seraphina's POV

At Wellston Girls' Dorm...

It's been a while since I got the message that John went out to confront Volcan. I wonder if he's okay...

Should I go check to see...?

I walked outside of the girls' dorm. Huh?

"John!" I called out to a tall dark haired boy standing in front of me. 

I ran out to him and held onto his shoulders. His head was down and he wasn't moving at all, even though he's on his feet. 

"You're not hurt, are you? How was the talk with Volcan?"

...

Nothing?

"Sera." he said a moment later. "Let's go back."

What happened out there? But, I don't want to force it out of him...

"Okay..." I responded.

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